Semi-automatic chromatographic separation apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an apparatus for the simultaneous semiautomatic column chromatographic separation of n sample solutions which are each separated into at least two fractions in the column with the aid of wash and/or buffer solutions. The apparatus comprises a proportionating pump with n channels, which are each connected upstream to a suction needle and downstream to a column of a group of n chromatographic columns. A fraction collector comprising n collection flasks is arranged beneath the group of columns.

United States Patent Scriba Dec. 9, 1975 [54] SEMI-AUTOMATICCHROMATOGRAPHIC 3,504,799 4/l970 Ogle 210/198 C SEPARATIO APPARATUS3,649,203 3/l972 Schneider 2l0/l98 C 3,70l,609 l0/l972 Bailey 210/198 CPeter C. Scriba, Munich, Germany Sartorius-Membranfilter GmbH,Gottingen, Germany Filed: Apr. 2, 1975 Appl. No.: 564,465

inventor:

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. l7, I974 Germany 2418509 US. Cl.210/138; 2lO/l98 C Int. Cl. B01D 15/08 Field of Search 2l0/l38, 198 C;55/67,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ll/l964 Perry 55/l97 PrimaryExaminerJohn Adee Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Browdy and Neimark ABS I'RACTThe invention relates to an apparatus for the simultaneoussemi-automatic column chromatographic separation of n sample solutionswhich are each separated into at least two fractions in the column withthe aid of wash and/or buffer solutions. The apparatus comprises aproportionating pump with n channels, which are each connected upstreamto a suction needle and downstream to a column of a group of n chromatographic columns. A fraction collector comprising n collection flasks isarranged beneath the group of columns.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 1 of 33,925,207

U.S. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,925,207

U.S. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,925,207

Fig.4

SEMI-AUTOMATIC CHROMATOGRAPI-IIC SEPARATION APPARATUS The inventionrelates to an apparatus for the simultaneous semi-automatic columnchromatographic separation of :1 sample solutions which are eachseparated into at least two fractions in the column with the aid of washand/or buffer solutions. The apparatus comprises a proportionating pumpwith n channels, which are each connected upstream to a suction needleand downstream to a column of a group of n chromatographic columns. Afraction collector comprising n collection flasks is arranged beneaththe group of columns.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the abovetype, which can be operated quickly and simply with a minimum demand onpersonnel, also with a large number of sample solutions to be examined.

As solution to this object, an apparatus of the above type is providedby a carrier arm carrying the n suction needles, which is displaceablerelative to a surface for supporting supply flasks for the solutions,not only in the axial direction of the suction needles but also at rightangles thereto into predetermined positions, a carrier plate on whichcollection flasks can be placed and which is displaceable under thecolumn group at right angles to the axis of the columns intopredetermined working positions for the collection flasks, and a timecontrol arrangement with adjustable time elements which co-ordinates thedisplacements of the carrier arm, the pump and the carrier plate.

A significant advantage of the invention consists in that the apparatus,once the sample solutions as well as the wash and buffer solutions havebeen prepared and arranged in their provided positions on the carriersurfaces and the apparatus set in action, the column chromatographicseparation proceeds automatically without the work of personnel beingrequired.

A further advantage of the invention consists in that a large number ofsample solutions, namely 20 or 30 sample solutions and more, can bechromatographically separated at the same time.

Furthermore an advantage of the invention consists in that the sameperson who set the apparatus into operation can already examine thefirst fractions obtained by the process while the remaining fractionsare still being produced on their own by the apparatus. This isparticularly meaningful in separation by column chromatography of samplesolutions in which the measurable radioactivity of individual fractionsis important and the half-life period of the active elements is short.In this case the measurement of the radioactivity can be begun with thefirst fraction as soon as this has been fully produced and production ofthe next has been commenced.

The carrier arm is preferably slideable along its length, whilst thecarrier arm and/or the carrier surface is adjustable in height.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, however, the carrier arm isrotatable and the turning axis of the carrier arm is adjustable inheight whilst the drive for the carrier arm is advantageously a motorwhich can be arrested in predetermined positions by brakes. Inaccordance with an improvement of the invention, this motor is astep-switch motor whilst in another preferred improvement of theinvention the motor is an 2 asynchromatic motor and the brake is a DC.current brake.

Further, the drive for the carrier ann advantageously comprises acontact which is displaced with displacement of the carrier ann, whichis alloted to adjustable stationary contacts by means of which thepredetermined drive positions of the carrier arm can be set. In thisconstruction, it is preferred that the movable contact is arranged on aring, whilst the stationary contacts are arranged outwardly of the ringabout its circumference. Advantageously, a rest is provided for thecarrier arm for each position into which it may be driven.

In this embodiment, the sample flasks with the different solutions canbe arranged in predetennined positions on the carrier surface. Inoperation the carrier arm is automatically elevated by at least thelength of the suction needles and is turned into the necessary positionin which it is again lowered and the suction needles carried on the armdip into the sample flask standing in that position. With the next stepthe arm is again elevated, turned into the next predetermined positionand lowered in that position. Advantageously the suction needles areadjustable in height.

In an advantageous development, the carrier arm has openings forreceiving the suction needles, whereby each suction needle is removablefrom its particular opening and is advantageously flexibly located.

In accordance with a feature, supply containers for the wash and buffersolutions are arranged relative to the carrier surface for the sampleflasks so that each flask is connectible with the particular sampleflask in accordance with the syphon principle.

The proportionating pump is preferably a tube pump which advantageouslycomprises at least 25 channels. In this manner it is possible to processjust as high a number of different samples at the same time.

Preferably each collector device carrying the collection flaskscomprises at least one member which couples with a complementary memberon the carrier plate when placing the collector device and which fixesthe situation of the collector device for this particular predeterminedposition on the carrier plate. Additionally each collector deviceadvantageously comprises one carrier tube at each corner which are,apart from one, all blocked to provide a carrier surface, whilst thecarrier plate in the predetermined positions for the collector devicewhich is provided with insert openings for its collector tubes, isprovided with a protruding pin to fit into the insert opening formed bythe open bore.

In this embodiment each collector device can only be arranged in a veryparticular manner, namely in such a manner that the protruding pin isinserted into the op en bore. Hereby, it is avoided in a simple mannerthat a collection flask is erroneously allocated to the incorrectchromatographic column.

An advantageous development is provided by having the carrier platequadratic in form and mounted as a turntable, whilst each collectordevice for the collection flasks may be placed in one quadrant of thecarrier plate.

In this embodiment an optimal employment'of space is achieved.

Advantageously a disc is connected to the turning axis of the turntable,which provides four rest positions displaced at while this disc isprovided with at least one pivotally arranged rest element which isbiased by a spring with a rest nose against the circumference of thedisc. Advantageously, however, two opposing pivotable rest elements areprovided in which the rest noses are biased against the periphery of thedisc by a common spring. Preferably a conventional spring arrangement isprovided; however the rest elements with their rest noses could belifted out of the rest positions of the disc by electromagnets.

In this embodiment it is possible in a simple manner to arrest thecarrier plate exactly at the end of a turn of 90 in one position inwhich the collector device with each of the collection flasks arrangedin the collector device finds itself exactly beneath the allocatedchromatographic column.

Advantageously, the chromatographic columns are arranged in a commonblock, which is preferably a block which may be kept at the sametemperature by means of a thermostat. In this construction according toone feature, a closure valve is arranged on the bottom of the block,which is adjustable between an open position in which the outletopenings of the columns are open and a closed position in which theoutlet openings are closed. Preferably the closure valve is a platewhich is provided with a number of silicone seals corresponding to thenumber of the chromatographic columns.

The proportionating pump is preferably reversible in its direction ofrotation. In the automatic operation of the apparatus, theproportionating pump can then at the beginning of the position changesof the carrier plate for the collector devices be reversed for a shorttime to suck in the drops suspended at the openings of thechromatographic columns and thus prevent a possible mixing of theindividual fractions. At the same time, the timing elements of the timecontrol arrangement can be switched off during this position change.

Preferably, the proportionating pump, the fraction collector and thecarrier arm form a common housing by which the carrier surfaces arepresented and within which the drive for the carrier arm and the carrierplate is located. A contemplated advantageous feature is that thehousing forms a pedestal in its central portion for carrying theproportionating pump, to one side of which pedestal is a step formingthe carrier surface for the sample flasks and on the opposite side ofthe pedestal a lower set plateau for the fraction collector, a closureplate extending from the pedestal of the housing on the side opposite tothe carrier surface being provided.

This embodiment is compact and can in relation to its weight of about 60kg, without pump and without control portion, be relatively easilytransported and rearranged.

The timing elements of the time control arrangement are advantageouslyclocks which can be set between the time zero and a maximum time. Inthis construction it is preferred that the chromatographic system andthe time control arrangement are contained in separate housings whichare electrically connected to one another by a cable.

This construction of the time control arrangement makes a very broadpre-selection possible for the timing of individual time steps of anoperation, whilst it is at the same time possible after the selection ofthe particular time step eliminations, to eliminate such by setting theprovided clock at zero.

Furthermore, an apparatus can be advantageously provided in which asubstitute block with chromatographic columns can be connected up.

The apparatus in accordance with the invention is advantageouslyemployed in the hormone analysis of medical solutions and preferably inthe analysis of the thyroid gland hormone Tri-iodide Thyronin (T andThyroxin (T The invention is described by way of example below withreference to the drawings; in these there is schematically shown:

FIGS. 1 and 2 a side view and plan view respectively of an apparatus forcolumn chromatographic separation of sample solutions, which serve toexplain the process,

FIG. 3 a side view of a practical embodiment of an apparatus inaccordance with the invention for semiautomatic column chromatographicseparation, and

FIG. 4 a side view of the carrier arm, in which this is in section inthe area of a suction needle to expose the spring mounting of thesuction needle.

The principal process of simultaneous column chromatographic separationof sample solutions is now described in conjunction with a Tri-iodideThyronin (T in vitro test of the thyriod gland function diagnosis withreference to the FIGS. 1 and 2.

In accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2, a supply flask l for a buffer solutionand an incubation flask 8 (FIG. 2) with inserted test tubes 2 for takingup of the sample solutions is arranged upstream from a roller pump 10. Asuction needle 11 is shown dipped into the test tube 2 shown in FIG. 1,which is arranged on the end of a tube 9 of a group of tubes which isupstream of the roller pump 10.

A thermostatically controllable block 5, with inserted chromatographiccolumns 3, is arranged downstream from the roller pump 10. The columns 3are arranged vertically in the block 5 although for clarity they areshown in the plane of the drawing in FIG. 2. A closure lid 4 is arrangedat the top end of the block 5 which extends over the total breadth andlength of the block. Each column 3 is connected to the roller pump 10through the closure lid 4 by the downstream end of a tube 9.

Beneath the column 3 containing block 5, a drain 7 and groups offraction tubes 6 is arranged which reach over the total breadth of theblock 5, whereby the three test tubes 6 arranged behind each other fromleft to right are allocated to one column 3.

The columns 3 are Sephadex columns which contain Dextran gel.

In carrying out a T test, samples and an elution solution is sucked fromthe supply flask l and the tubes 2 one after the other and pumped in aclosed system over as many Sephadex columns 3 as there are test tubes 2filled with sample solutions. In the T test, for example, 0.4 ml of anincubation mixture consisting of a serum sample, radio active markedsolution T and Barbital buffer is sucked up and brought onto theSephadex columns arranged in the thermostatically controlled block 5 forgel filtration. Elution is then effected for 10 minutes with Barbitalbuffer. After the separation of the incubation mixture in the Sephadexcolumns into three fractions, the T "J bonded to the Dextran gel. iseluted by washing with bovine and human serum. The eluate in the threefractions, i.e. collected in the three fraction test tubes 6 arrangedbehind each other in the FIGS. 1 and 2 can then be directly evaluated ina gramma-ray measurement location.

The drain 7 is provided for collection of the buffer solution which isthen pumped through the Sephadex columns, which is disposed of as rinsesolution.

An apparatus in accordance with the invention is now described in moredetail with reference to FIG. 3.

In accordance with FIG. 3, a housing 46 is provided which forms anelevated platform 48 in its middle portion, on which a roller pump 38 isarranged.

On the upstream side of the pump 38, i.e. in the left hand portion ofFIG. 3, the housing 46 forms a step whose surface provides carriersurface 26 on which the supply flasks 28 for the samples, wash andbuffer solutions can be placed.

A carrier arm 24 is connected to the housing 46 on the upstream side ofthe roller pump 38 and has a turning axis 40 which carries the carrierarm 24 at a predetermined distance above the carrier surface 26. Suctionneedles 22 are inserted in the carrier arm 24 which, in therepresentation of FIG. 3 are dipped into the supply flasks 28, wherebythe suction needles, which are advantageously spring mounted, aredisplaced upwardly l to 2 millimeters relative to the carrier arm whenpressed onto the bottom of the supply flasks 28. It is thus achievedthat the sample solution is completely sucked off.

The carrier arm 24 with its turning axle 40 is adjustable in heightrelative to the carrier surface 26 and is tumable about the turning axle40 into predetermined angular positions. The setting of the height isobtained with a lifter, which is at least as long as the suction needles22 so that their bottom ends in the top position of the lifter of thecarrier arm are out of the supply flasks 28 or out of such a flask inwhich it was located. The lifter is slightly larger than the height ofsupply flasks 28. The motors required for the height adjustment andturning of the carrier arm 24 are arranged in the housing 46 beneath thecarrier surface 26.

The predetermined angular positions of the carrier arm 24 are clearlymarked on the carrier surface 26 of the housing 46 so that the supplyflasks 28 and the tubes with the sample solution containers can beplaced exactly into their provided positions in only one directionon'the carrier surface 26, whereby the supply flask for the samplesolution can only be arranged in one predetermined position.

Each suction needle 22 is connected at its top end to the upstream endof a tube 42 of the roller pump 38.

On the downstream side of the roller pump 38 there is arranged athermostatic controllable block 36 containing chromatographic columnsand a fraction collector 44. The block 36 stands on a carrier plate 50which extends from the pedestal 48 of the housing 46 on the sideopposite to the carrier surface 26. The top end of each column isconnected to the downstream end of a tube 42 of the roller pump 38. Thefraction collector 44 is so arranged beneath the carrier plate 50 thatthere is still space between its upper end and the underside of thecarrier plate 50.

The fraction collector 44 comprises a carrier plate 30 which isconnected to a turning axle 54 which is located in the housing 46beneath the plateau 52.

Furthermore, the fraction collector 44 comprises carrier devices 32 intowhich the collector flasks 34 for the fractions may be inserted. Carrierdevices for two types of collection flasks are thus contemplated.

The carrier plate 30 of the fraction collector 44 is made in the form ofa turntable tumable on its turning axle 54 by means of a motor arrangedin the housing 46.

The carrier plate 30 is formed approximately quadratically in the sameway as the carrier device 32, whereby one carrier device 32 can alwaysbe placed on one quadrant of the carrier plate 30.

In operation, the carrier plate 30 may be arrested in four displacedpositions at 90 relative to one another, whereby a carrier device 32 isarranged exactly beneath the thermostatically controllable block 36 anda collection flask 34 in this carrier device 32 is beneath each lowerend of a column in each of these four positions.

The motors for setting the height of the axle 40 of the carrier arm 24,for the turning of the carrier arm 24, for the drive of the roller pump38 and for the turning of the fraction collector 44 are co-ordinativelycontrolled by a common time controlled arrangement. The time controlarrangement has adjustable time elements to each of which a time can beallocated. Both the portion of the apparatus which is arranged upstreamof the pump and that portion which is arranged downstream is allocatedto its own group of timing elements which proceed one after the other,whereby the time elements allocated to the upstream group and the timeelements allocated to the downstream group can function independently ofone another. The time elements of one group can be connected one afterthe other so that the next following time element is set into operationonly after the time has passed which was set for a time element. It isthus possible to pre-select at will the time for the individual steps incarrying out the semi-automatic column chromatographic separation.

A plate 55 is arranged at the bottom of the block 36 as closure valve,which has as many silicone seals as chromatographic columns contained inthe block 36. The drive of the plate is effected over a member which ismounted on a rotatable eccentric. The eccentric is secured to an axiswhich extends from the housing 46 and is provided with a control knob.By turning the knob the plate 55 is displaced and the chromatographiccolumns are thus closed or opened.

In accordance with FIG. 4 the suction needles 22 in the carrier arm 24are spring supported. Each suction needle 22 is inserted for thispurpose in a sheath 56. The sheath 56 forms a broadened annular flange58 which is slidably displaceable in the bore 60 provided in the carrierarm for the suction needle 22. Further, a compression spring 62 isarranged in the bore 60 which on the one hand presses against theannular flange 58 of the sheath 56 and on the other hand against theannular shoulder 64 provided in the bore 60. In accordance with FIG. 4,the annular shoulder 64 is situated at the top end of the bore 60 in theupper end position of the carrier arm 24, whilst in the rest position ofthe suction needle 22, the annular flange 58 is situated at the bottomend of the bore 60 with its bottom surface about level with the bottomside of the carrier arm 24. Some sort of suitable security can beprovided which prevents that the sheath 56 of the suction needle 22falls downwardly out of the carrier arm 24. This can for example beachieved by a plate with openings whose diameter is smaller than theouter diameter of the annular flanges 58 of the sheath 56.

The compression springs 62 arranged in the bores 60 act on the sheaths56 and thus the suction needles 22 are in their rest position. When thecarrier arm 24 is lowered into a flask in operation and the bottom endsof the suction needles 22 reach the bottom of the flasks, the suctionneedles 22 are displaced upwardly with further lowering of the carrierarm against the action of the compression spring 62. The carrier arm 24is in operation lowered so far that each suction needle is displaced lto 2 millimeters against the action of its allocated compression spring62. It is thus ensured that the sample solution in the flask iscompletely sucked out.

I claim:

I. An apparatus for the simultaneous semi-automatic chromatographicseparation of n sample solutions into a least two fractions, whichcomprises n chromatographic columns, n flexible tubes each connected atone end to one inlet of the n chromatographic columns and connected atthe other end to a hollow suction needle, a roller pump arranged to acton the n flexible tubes and thus pump sample solutions into which thesuction needles may be dipped to the chromatographic columns, acollector device comprising n fraction collection flasks for eachfraction, a carrier arm in which the n suction needles are mounted inparallel spaced relationship with their free ends extending from thecarrier arm, the carrier arm being displaceable both in the direction ofthe length-wise axes of the needles as well as at right angles theretointo predetermined positions relative to a carrier surface for samplesolution flasks, a carrier plate situated beneath the outlets of thechromatographic columns and onto which collector devices for carryingfraction collection flasks may be placed in predetermined positions, thecarrier plate being rotatable in a plane which is at right angles to thelength wise axes of the chromatographic columns, and a time controlarrangement having adjustable time elements to co-ordinate and controldisplacement of the carrier arm, the carrier plate and pumping of theroller pump.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the carrier arm is anelongated member, and in which said carrier arm is additionallydisplaceable along the height of its axis of rotation.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the carrier arm isprovided with bores in which the suction needles are removably mounted.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which the suction needles aredisplaceable along their axes relative to the carrier arm, against aspring action acting between the carrier arm and the suction needles.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which supply containers forwash and buffer solutions are provided, and in which said supplycontainers are arranged relative to the sample solution flasks so thatthe supply containers and sample solution flasks may be connected usingthe Syphon-principle.

6. An apparatus according to claim I, in which each collector device forcarrying the fraction collection flasks is provided with at least oneelement which fits with a complimentary element provided on the carrierplate and thus fixes the collector device in its predetermined positionon the carrier plate.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the carrier plate ismounted to function as a turntable, and in which the carrier plate isquadratic in form, each quadrant being adapted to receive a collectordevice.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the roller pump isreversible in direction.

9. An apparatus according to claim I, in which there is provided acommon housing for housing drive means for driving the carrier arm andcarrier plate, and in which a surface of said housing forms the carriersurface for carrying sample solution flasks.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, in which the housing is shaped toform a central pedestral for carrying the roller pump, the carriersurface for carrying sample solution flasks then being to one side ofthe platform and a deeper set plateau being provided to the other sideof the platform over which the carrier plate is mounted, and in which aclosure plate is provided for closing off access to fraction collectorflasks, the closure plate extending sidewardly from the pedestal on theside of the plateau.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including a columnblock in which said n chromatographic columns are disposed.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, in which the column block forreceiving the chromatographic columns is provided with temperaturecontrol means for maintaining the chromatographic columns at a constanttemperature.

at s a

1. AN APPARATUS FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS SEMI-AUTOMIC CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION OF N SAMPLES SOLUTION INTO A LEAST TWO FRACTIONS, WHICH COMRISES N CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMNS, N FLEXIBLE TUBES EACH CONNECTED AT ONE END TO ONE INLET OF THE N CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMNS AND CONNECTED AT THE OTHER END TO A HOLLOW SUCTION NEEDLE, A ROLLER PUMP ARRANGED TO ACT ON THE N FLEXIBLE TUBES AND THUS PUMP SAMPLE SOLUTION INTO WHICH THE SUCTION NEEDLES MAY BE DIPPED TO THE CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMNS, A COLLECTOR DEVICE COMPRISING N FRACTION COLLECTION FLASKS FOR EACH FRACTION, A CARRIER ARM IN WHICH THE N SUCTION NEEDLES ARE MOUNTED IN PARALLEL SPACE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR FREE ENDS EXTENDING FROM THE CARRIER ARM, THE CARRIER ARM BEING DISPLACEABLE BOTH IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LENGTH-WISE AXES OF THE NEEDLE AS WELL AS AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO INTO PREDETERMINED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO A CARRIER SURFACE FOR SAMPLE SOLUTION FLASKS, A CARRIER PLATE SITUATED BENEATH THE OUTLETS OF THE CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMNS AND ONTO WHICH COLLECTOR DEVICES FOR CARRYING FRACTION COLLECTION FLASKS MAY BE PLACED IN PREDETERMINED POSITIONS, THE CARRIER PLATE BEING ROTATABLE IN A PLANE WHICH IS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE LENGTH WISE AXES OF THE CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMNS, AND A TIME CONTROL ARRANGEMENT HAVING ADJUSTABLE TIME ELEMENTS TO CO-ORDINATE AND CONTROL DISPLACEMENT OF THE CARRIER ARM, THE CARRIER PLATE AND PUMPING OF THE ROLLER PUMP.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the carrier arm is an elongated member, and in which said carrier arm is additionally displaceable along the height of its axis of rotation.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the carrier arm is provided with bores in which the suction needles are removably mounted.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which the suction needles are displaceable along their axes relative to the carrier arm, against a spring action acting between the carrier arm and the suction needles.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which supply containers for wash and buffer solutions are provided, and in which said supply containers are arranged relative to the sample solution flasks so that the supply containers and sample solution flasks may be connected using the syphon-principle.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which each collector device for carrying the fraction collection flasks is provided with at least one element which fits with a complimentary element provided on the carrier plate and thus fixes the collector device in its predetermined position on the carrier plate.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the carrier plate is mounted to function as a turntable, and in which the carrier plate is quadratic in form, each quadrant being adapted to receive a collector device.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the roller pump is reversible in direction.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which there is provided a common housing for housing drive means for driving the carrier arm and carrier plate, and in which a surface of said housing forms the carrier surface for carrying sample solution flasks.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 9, in which the housing is shaped to form a central pedestral for carrying the roller pump, the carrier surface for carrying sample solution flasks then being to one side of the platform and a deeper set plateau being provided to the other side of the platform over which the carrier plate is mounted, and in which a closure plate is provided for closing off access to fraction collector flasks, the closure plate extending sidewardly from the pedestal on the side of the plateau.
 11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including a column block in which said n chromatographic columns are disposed.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 11, in which the column block for receiving the chromatographic columns is provided with temperature control means for maintaining the chromatographic columns at a constant temperature. 